Bottle closure



W. G. L AIDLAW BOTTLE CLOSURE June 13, 1933.

Filed Aug. 19, 1929 (Itforneg `25 of the typ l Patented June i3, 1933remos N ITED STATES PATENT ori-'lou4 WALTER G. LAIDLAW, F SYRAGUSE, NEWYORK, ASSIGNOR TO KLEEN-KAP CORPORA- TION, 0F SYBACUSE, NEW YORK, A.CORPORATION OFgNEW YORK BOTTLE cLosUItE Application led August 19, 1929.Serial No. 336,907.

This invention relates to closures for containers, nd particularlyclosures for milk bottles o1 the usual type.

In the" prior art attempts have been made 5v to produce milk-bottle capswhich are adapted to seat against the shoulder in the bottle mouth, suchcaps also being provided with flan es which extend over the mouth of thebott e. In these caps, however, no provision was made for allowing thecaps to adjust themselves to the usual variations in milk bottles, thecaps themselves being finished larticles in which the distances betweenthe portion seating in the shoulder of the bottle was made at a fixedpoint from the bottle mouth. In the patent to Parker, No. 1,460,269,there was suggested for the first time in the art the provision of abottle cap or a closure of this character, in which the Cap possessedthe function of adjusting itself to varying distances between theshoulder in the mouthl of the bottle and that mouth,

so that an effective double seal was obtained.

The present invention is concerned with caps e set forth in that Parkerpatent.

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a bottlecapwhich will adjust itself to variations in the distance between theshoulder and the mouth of the bottle, so that an effective double sealwill be obtained. y

Other and further objects and advantages will `appear from the moredetailed descrip-l tion set forth below, it being understood,

- however, that this more detailed descrip- Figure 2, a transversesection of the closure of Figure 1, as it appears when about to beapplied to a bottle, also shown in fragmentary section in Figure 2; in vFigure 3, a strengthening diskdesirably used with the closure; in yFigure 4, a transverse section showing the cap applied to a bottle; andin Figure 5, a sectional view of a modified form' of cap.`

Turning to a cons1deration of the preferred form of closure illustratedin the drawing, the disclosure desirably taking the form of a cap havinga central or disk-like portion l, provided wlth an upstanding .wallportion 2, and a flaring portion 3. The Haring portion 3 is desirablyformed with a curvature greater than that of the bottle to which the capis. to be applied. Furthermore, t`he upstanding wall portion 2 lisdesirably made of a height less than the dista-nce between the shulder 4of the bottle and thel mouth 5 thereof. Desirably the upstanding wallportion 2 tapers inwardly from the point 6 where it joins the central ordisk-like portion to the point 7 where it joinsthe flaring portion 3.The diameter of the central portion l is such that it fits snugly withinthe shoulder 4 of the bottle B, and the inward taper of the upstandingwall 2 is'sufiicient to hold a strengthening disk D firmly in positionin the finished closure when such strengthening disk is utilized. Due tothe greater, curvature of the flaring portion 3 as compared with thecurvature of the bottle mouth 5, the end 8 of the flaring portion'willusually fit on the mouth 5 of the bottle at the beginning of the cappingoperation.

Considering more particularly Figure 2 of the drawing, when the cappingoperation is employed the closure C is applied to the bottle, and theend 8l of the flaring portion will engage the' mouth 5 of the bottle. Inthe .actual capping operation to secure the cap on the bottle as shownin Figure 4, the central 9 or disk-like portion l is depressed until itseats upon'the shoulder 4 of the bottle. During this operation, theflaring portion 3 is flattened against themouth of the bottle, and theupstanding wall portion 2 adjusts itself to the distance between theshoulder 41 and the mouth 5 of the bottle. Thecap thus possesses thefunction of adjusting itself to f disk D being held in position in theclosure C due to the tapered wall portion 2. Such wall portions may becrimped about the disk D to effectively hold that disk in position. j

ln the modification shown in Figure 5, the closure may have its sidewalls E2 flattened down against the disk D. Such structure may beobtained either by depressing the flaring portion 3 of the closure shownin Figure 2; or the structure of Figure 5 may be obtained by turning thewall 2 inwardly upon the disk D and then outwardly upon itself to formthe flaring portion 3. The structure of Figure 5 also shows the flaringportion 3 having` a curvature .greater than the mouth of the bottle towhich the closure is to be applied, so that during the cappingoperation, the flattened wall 2 will unfold sufliciently to adjustitself to the distance between the shoulder 4 and mouth 5- of a bottle.The central portion l of the cap may be made slightly'oval, so that thecap will adapt itself tothe irregularities of the shoulders.

which are not g-enerally true circles in the average run of milkbottles, and similarly the strengthening disk D may be made slightlyoval for a similar reason.

The cap may be made of any desired material, but particularly a goodgrade of paper gives an effective closure. Such paper may bewaterproofed in any desired manner, if a Waterproof closure is sought.

The closures of the present invention may be desirably packed incartons. rlhe flattened shapes of the closures adapt them to this typeof packaging, and this is particularly true of the article shown inFigure 5.

Having thus set forth my invention, l claim:

l. A bottle closure comprising a central portion carrying an annularflange having Wall portion and a flaring portion, the flaring portionhaving a greater curvature than the mouth of the bottle to which theclosure is to be applied.

A bottle closure comprising a central. portion having an annular flangehaving an inwardly tapering wall portion and a flaring portion, theflaring portion having a greater curvature than the mouth of the bottleto which the closure is to be applied, and a closure comprisin g acentral portion adapted,

to seat on the shoulder wof the bottle, and j an annular flange adaptedto cover at least a portion of the mouth of the bottle, said flangecomprising an upstandin'gwall of a height less than the distance fromthe shoulder to the mouth of the bottle, and a flaring portion having agreater curvature than the mouth of the bottle to which the closure isto be applied, so that upon seating the central portion of the closureon the shoulder of the bottle, the flaring portion is fitted to thebottle mouth and the upstanding wall is adjusted to the distance fromthe shoulder to the bottle mouth, whereby a double seal is effected.

4. A closure for a bottleprovided with a shoulder in the inner `wall ofthe bottle spaced from the mouth of the bottle, said closure comprisinga central portion adapted to seat on the shoulder of the bottle, and anannular flange adapted to cover atleast a portion of the mouth of thebottle, Asaid flange comprising an inwardly tapering wall portion of aheight less than the distance from the shoulder to the mouth of thebottle, and a flaring portion having a greater curvature than the mouthof the bottle to which the closure is to be applied, so that uponseating the central portion of the closure on the shoulder of thebottle, the flaring portion is fitted to the bottle mouth and theupstanding wall is adjusted to the distance from the shoulder to thebottle mouth, and a strengthening disk held in place Within the closureby the inwardly tapering wall.

5. A closurefor a milk-bottle having the usual shoulder comprising acentral portion adapted to lit snugly in the mouth of the milk bottle,said central portion carrying an annular portion of substantiallyinverted U- shape forming inner and outer wall sections, the innerwallsection being adapted to receive and hold securely a reenforeingdisc,- the outer wall section being capable of being l displaced duringa capping operation to conform substantially with the contour of theshoulder of the milk bottle, for which purpose the outer wall sectionprior to capping has a curvature greater than the mouth Wall of thebottle.

6. A closure for a milk bottle having the usual shoulder comprisingacentral portion adapted to fit snugly in the mouth of the milk bottle,said central portion carrying an annular portion `of substantially'inverted U- shape 'forming inner and outer Wall sections,

' form substantially with the contour of the shoulder of the milkbottle,and a reenforc- A ing disc carried by said closure'and retained inposition thereon by` the said inner Walll section.

.WALTER G. LAIDLAW.

